billman
(ˈbɪlmən)
[f. bill n.1 + man.]
a. A soldier armed with a bill. b. A watchman similarly armed. c. A labourer using a bill.
| 1530 Palsgr. 198 Bylman in a batayle, halebardier. 1552 Huloet, Byll man, falcarius. 1581 Savile Tacitus' Hist. i. xxiv. (1591) 15 Cocceius Proculus, a bilman of the Garde. 1604 Dekker Honest Wh. Wks. 1873 II. 163 Enter Constable and Bilmen. 1606 Sylvester Captaines 242 A sort of lusty Bill-men, set..to fell a Cops. 1801 Strutt Sports & Past. ii. i. 62 Four thousand whifflers and billmen. 1861 Dixon Bacon iv. §17 The Bowmen of Cressy, the billmen of Boulogne. |